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The Five of Us
Not yet published
Expected 25 Aug 26Dark academia is turned inside out in
The Five of Us
, an unsettling, propulsive thriller where home is not a sanctuary, isolation looms, and the future has evaporated. All that’s left is fear, frustration, and an anger that won’t go away.
Meet Crow, Goldfinch, Starling, Wren, and Cuckoo—five girls who will never tell you their real names. They’re the brightest students at an underfunded, inner-city Bristol school, pushing toward opportunity despite the odds stacked against them. They believe they’re on the cusp of something better … until the world abruptly shuts down. Exams are cancelled, their plans collapse, and the future dissolves into a fog of uncertainty.
With long nights, a city under curfew, and nothing left to lose, the girls slip into a world of dark possibility. Each illicit outing becomes its own kind of dangerous magic. Their choices spiral—from reckless to ruthless—and by the end of a strange, suspended summer, more than one person will be dead.
Seven years later, the survivors have not spoken since. But someone knows what happened. Someone who has been watching. Hunting. Taunting. As they stumble through an adulthood they were never prepared for—and reckon with all the wounds of a generation left behind—the rage that bound them together in the past resurfaces with lethal force.
They broke the rules. And now the rules may end up breaking them.
Meet Crow, Goldfinch, Starling, Wren, and Cuckoo—five girls who will never tell you their real names. They’re the brightest students at an underfunded, inner-city Bristol school, pushing toward opportunity despite the odds stacked against them. They believe they’re on the cusp of something better … until the world abruptly shuts down. Exams are cancelled, their plans collapse, and the future dissolves into a fog of uncertainty.
With long nights, a city under curfew, and nothing left to lose, the girls slip into a world of dark possibility. Each illicit outing becomes its own kind of dangerous magic. Their choices spiral—from reckless to ruthless—and by the end of a strange, suspended summer, more than one person will be dead.
Seven years later, the survivors have not spoken since. But someone knows what happened. Someone who has been watching. Hunting. Taunting. As they stumble through an adulthood they were never prepared for—and reckon with all the wounds of a generation left behind—the rage that bound them together in the past resurfaces with lethal force.
They broke the rules. And now the rules may end up breaking them.
- GenresDark AcademiaSuspense
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 25, 2026
About the author
Sian Gilbert
3 books848 followersSian Gilbert is a thriller author in the United Kingdom. She is represented by Helen Heller at the Helen Heller Agency.
Her debut thriller SHE STARTED IT (June 13th 2023) was a Book of the Month Main Selection, and an Amazon Editors' Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense. Her second thriller I DID WARN HER (June 18th 2025) received a starred review from Booklist.
Sian's third novel, THE FIVE OF US, is coming August 2026.
Follow Sian on Instagram, TikTok and X: @sianmgilbert
Find Sian on Facebook:
Sian Gilbert - Author
Her debut thriller SHE STARTED IT (June 13th 2023) was a Book of the Month Main Selection, and an Amazon Editors' Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense. Her second thriller I DID WARN HER (June 18th 2025) received a starred review from Booklist.
Sian's third novel, THE FIVE OF US, is coming August 2026.
Follow Sian on Instagram, TikTok and X: @sianmgilbert
Find Sian on Facebook:
Sian Gilbert - Author
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 4, 2026
I’m a big fan of Sian Gilbert now. I love her storytelling and the reveals that pop up here and there. I really loved the friendship of these girls and I was excited to be on that journey with them (despite the murders).
Thank you NetGalley for this arc!
Thank you NetGalley for this arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“The Five of Us” by Sian Gilbert is one of those thrillers that feels less interested in shocking twists and more interested in exploring how guilt, loneliness, and one terrible decision can shape an entire life. Part dark academia, part psychological thriller, and deeply rooted in the strange reality of 2020, this is a slow-burning but emotionally powerful story about friendship, anger, and the long shadow of regret.
The story follows five exceptionally bright girls attending an underfunded school in Bristol. Known only by their bird nicknames—Crow, Goldfinch, Starling, Wren, and Cuckoo—they've built their identities around academic success and dreams of escaping their circumstances. Then the pandemic arrives, exams are canceled, their carefully planned futures suddenly disappear, and they're left isolated with nothing but uncertainty stretching ahead of them.
At first, the girls simply start breaking lockdown rules to spend time together. But boredom, frustration, and a growing sense that the world has abandoned them slowly push them toward increasingly reckless behavior. Something happens during that summer, something devastating enough to destroy their friendship forever.
Seven years later, the surviving girls are scattered, estranged, and carrying the emotional scars of what happened. Just as they've begun building separate lives, they discover that someone knows the truth about that summer. Forced back together, they're confronted with old secrets, unresolved trauma, and the possibility that the past may never stay buried.
What stood out to me most was how effectively the book captures the emotional atmosphere of 2020. Rather than focusing on the pandemic itself, the story examines the frustration, isolation, and hopelessness that many people experienced during that time. These girls had spent years working toward a future that suddenly vanished overnight. The resulting anger and recklessness feel believable, and the book does an excellent job showing how loneliness and uncertainty can push people toward choices they never would have made otherwise.
The friendship dynamics are easily the strongest part of the novel. Even when the girls are making terrible decisions, their bond feels genuine. The story spends a lot of time exploring loyalty, class differences, ambition, and the complicated ways friendships evolve under pressure. Watching these relationships fracture and later seeing the lingering effects years afterward gave the book much of its emotional weight.
I also really liked the choice to use bird nicknames rather than the girls' real names. At first I thought it sounded a little strange, but it ultimately adds another layer of mystery and symbolism to the story. The nicknames help create the feeling that these girls were once part of their own private world, one that no longer exists.
The book uses multiple points of view, which allows you to understand each girl's background and motivations. For me, this was both a strength and a weakness. On one hand, the rotating perspectives give the characters depth and help build empathy for all of them. On the other hand, there were definitely moments where I had to remind myself whose chapter I was reading, especially early on. Those who struggle with large casts may find the first half a bit challenging.
Speaking of pacing, this is very much a slow-burn thriller. The first half focuses heavily on character development, atmosphere, and building the emotional foundation of the story. In fact, I became so invested in the girls' lives during the 2020 timeline that I almost forgot there was still a present-day mystery waiting to unfold. The tension gradually simmers in the background before finally ramping up significantly in the later sections. Around the final stretch, the pace accelerates and the suspense becomes much more intense.
What I appreciated most is that beneath the mystery, this is really a story about consequences. It's about what happens when intelligent, ambitious young people lose faith in the future they've been promised. It's about the lingering effects of boredom, loneliness, grief, and anger. The thriller elements are compelling, but the emotional exploration of guilt and regret is what truly lingers.
Overall, “The Five of Us” is a thoughtful, atmospheric psychological thriller that blends mystery with a surprisingly sharp examination of friendship and adolescence during an extraordinary moment in history. If you enjoy character-driven mysteries, multiple perspectives, dark academia vibes, and stories that focus on the emotional fallout of long-buried secrets, this one is definitely worth picking up.
“The Five of Us” by Sian Gilbert is one of those thrillers that feels less interested in shocking twists and more interested in exploring how guilt, loneliness, and one terrible decision can shape an entire life. Part dark academia, part psychological thriller, and deeply rooted in the strange reality of 2020, this is a slow-burning but emotionally powerful story about friendship, anger, and the long shadow of regret.
The story follows five exceptionally bright girls attending an underfunded school in Bristol. Known only by their bird nicknames—Crow, Goldfinch, Starling, Wren, and Cuckoo—they've built their identities around academic success and dreams of escaping their circumstances. Then the pandemic arrives, exams are canceled, their carefully planned futures suddenly disappear, and they're left isolated with nothing but uncertainty stretching ahead of them.
At first, the girls simply start breaking lockdown rules to spend time together. But boredom, frustration, and a growing sense that the world has abandoned them slowly push them toward increasingly reckless behavior. Something happens during that summer, something devastating enough to destroy their friendship forever.
Seven years later, the surviving girls are scattered, estranged, and carrying the emotional scars of what happened. Just as they've begun building separate lives, they discover that someone knows the truth about that summer. Forced back together, they're confronted with old secrets, unresolved trauma, and the possibility that the past may never stay buried.
What stood out to me most was how effectively the book captures the emotional atmosphere of 2020. Rather than focusing on the pandemic itself, the story examines the frustration, isolation, and hopelessness that many people experienced during that time. These girls had spent years working toward a future that suddenly vanished overnight. The resulting anger and recklessness feel believable, and the book does an excellent job showing how loneliness and uncertainty can push people toward choices they never would have made otherwise.
The friendship dynamics are easily the strongest part of the novel. Even when the girls are making terrible decisions, their bond feels genuine. The story spends a lot of time exploring loyalty, class differences, ambition, and the complicated ways friendships evolve under pressure. Watching these relationships fracture and later seeing the lingering effects years afterward gave the book much of its emotional weight.
I also really liked the choice to use bird nicknames rather than the girls' real names. At first I thought it sounded a little strange, but it ultimately adds another layer of mystery and symbolism to the story. The nicknames help create the feeling that these girls were once part of their own private world, one that no longer exists.
The book uses multiple points of view, which allows you to understand each girl's background and motivations. For me, this was both a strength and a weakness. On one hand, the rotating perspectives give the characters depth and help build empathy for all of them. On the other hand, there were definitely moments where I had to remind myself whose chapter I was reading, especially early on. Those who struggle with large casts may find the first half a bit challenging.
Speaking of pacing, this is very much a slow-burn thriller. The first half focuses heavily on character development, atmosphere, and building the emotional foundation of the story. In fact, I became so invested in the girls' lives during the 2020 timeline that I almost forgot there was still a present-day mystery waiting to unfold. The tension gradually simmers in the background before finally ramping up significantly in the later sections. Around the final stretch, the pace accelerates and the suspense becomes much more intense.
What I appreciated most is that beneath the mystery, this is really a story about consequences. It's about what happens when intelligent, ambitious young people lose faith in the future they've been promised. It's about the lingering effects of boredom, loneliness, grief, and anger. The thriller elements are compelling, but the emotional exploration of guilt and regret is what truly lingers.
Overall, “The Five of Us” is a thoughtful, atmospheric psychological thriller that blends mystery with a surprisingly sharp examination of friendship and adolescence during an extraordinary moment in history. If you enjoy character-driven mysteries, multiple perspectives, dark academia vibes, and stories that focus on the emotional fallout of long-buried secrets, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Part dark academia, part psychological thriller, and deeply rooted in the chaos and uncertainty of 2020, it explores what happens when a group of intelligent girls stop believing the future has a place for them.
The story follows five best friends known only by bird nicknames. Crow, Goldfinch, Starling, Wren, and Cuckoo. They are all bright students attending an underfunded school in Bristol. When the pandemic abruptly shuts the world down, their exams are cancelled, their carefully planned futures disappear overnight, and the isolation begins to wear away at them.
What starts as sneaking out during lockdown quickly spirals into increasingly reckless and dangerous behaviour, leading to a summer that changes all of their lives forever.
Seven years later, the surviving girls are estranged and barely holding themselves together as adults. But when it becomes clear someone knows what happened that summer, they’re forced back into each other’s orbit along with all the guilt, anger, and unresolved trauma they tried to bury.
What stood out most to me was the emotional tension running through the entire story. There’s this constant feeling of frustration, claustrophobia, and simmering resentment that perfectly captures that specific era of fear, uncertainty, and isolation. The book does such a good job portraying how quickly loneliness and hopelessness can push people toward destructive choices.
I also really appreciated how distinct the girls felt despite the large cast. The shifting perspectives gave each of them emotional depth, and the story spends a lot of time exploring class, ambition, friendship, and the crushing pressure of trying to build a future in a world that suddenly feels broken.
The pacing is slower at times especially in the first half, but I found myself completely invested in both the group dynamic and the unravelling mystery. The tension builds gradually. It’s darker, more introspective, and much more interested in guilt, anger, identity, and the long shadow left behind by one terrible summer.
Thank you so much Blackstone Publishing, Sian Gilbert, and NetGalley for the #gifted earc.
All opinions are my own 🖤
The story follows five best friends known only by bird nicknames. Crow, Goldfinch, Starling, Wren, and Cuckoo. They are all bright students attending an underfunded school in Bristol. When the pandemic abruptly shuts the world down, their exams are cancelled, their carefully planned futures disappear overnight, and the isolation begins to wear away at them.
What starts as sneaking out during lockdown quickly spirals into increasingly reckless and dangerous behaviour, leading to a summer that changes all of their lives forever.
Seven years later, the surviving girls are estranged and barely holding themselves together as adults. But when it becomes clear someone knows what happened that summer, they’re forced back into each other’s orbit along with all the guilt, anger, and unresolved trauma they tried to bury.
What stood out most to me was the emotional tension running through the entire story. There’s this constant feeling of frustration, claustrophobia, and simmering resentment that perfectly captures that specific era of fear, uncertainty, and isolation. The book does such a good job portraying how quickly loneliness and hopelessness can push people toward destructive choices.
I also really appreciated how distinct the girls felt despite the large cast. The shifting perspectives gave each of them emotional depth, and the story spends a lot of time exploring class, ambition, friendship, and the crushing pressure of trying to build a future in a world that suddenly feels broken.
The pacing is slower at times especially in the first half, but I found myself completely invested in both the group dynamic and the unravelling mystery. The tension builds gradually. It’s darker, more introspective, and much more interested in guilt, anger, identity, and the long shadow left behind by one terrible summer.
Thank you so much Blackstone Publishing, Sian Gilbert, and NetGalley for the #gifted earc.
All opinions are my own 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Storygraph
Release: August 25, 2026
Author: Sian Gilbert
Publisher: Blackstone
Rating: 3.75★
Thoughts:
The five of us is a gripping and unnerving thriller that blends the tension of youth’s reckless decisions with the haunting consequences of those actions. The novel follows five girls—Crow, Goldfinch, Starling, Wren, and Cuckoo—who, after the world shuts down and exams are canceled, begin to spiral into a world of dangerous choices. Their dark summer leads to tragic outcomes, and seven years later, the past is still haunting them. With themes of rage, fear, and a generation left behind, the novel navigates how actions of the past shape the present. It's a slow-burn, psychological exploration of guilt, secrets, and the fury of a group of girls trying to reclaim control in a world that has given them nothing. The tension between what was and what could have been, paired with the haunting realization that someone is still watching, keeps the reader gripped. Hartley’s portrayal of the intersection of adolescence and adult regret makes for a potent, chilling narrative.
This book suits someone in the mood for something: dark, mysterious, tense
Pace: slow
Plot or Character Driven?: character-driven
Strong Character Development?: yes
Loveable Characters?: no
Diverse Cast?: no
Are Character Flaws a Main Focus?: yes
Main Themes / Tropes:
Rage, guilt, secrets, recklessness, betrayal, the loss of a future, friendship, trust, generational trauma
Synopsis:
Five girls, once the brightest students in a troubled school, are plunged into an uncertain, isolating summer as the world shuts down. Their recklessness spirals into tragedy, and seven years later, the consequences continue to haunt them. Someone knows what happened that summer, and their dark secrets are about to resurface.
Favorite Quote:
“We thought the future was ours—until the world dissolved.”
Author: Sian Gilbert
Publisher: Blackstone
Rating: 3.75★
Thoughts:
The five of us is a gripping and unnerving thriller that blends the tension of youth’s reckless decisions with the haunting consequences of those actions. The novel follows five girls—Crow, Goldfinch, Starling, Wren, and Cuckoo—who, after the world shuts down and exams are canceled, begin to spiral into a world of dangerous choices. Their dark summer leads to tragic outcomes, and seven years later, the past is still haunting them. With themes of rage, fear, and a generation left behind, the novel navigates how actions of the past shape the present. It's a slow-burn, psychological exploration of guilt, secrets, and the fury of a group of girls trying to reclaim control in a world that has given them nothing. The tension between what was and what could have been, paired with the haunting realization that someone is still watching, keeps the reader gripped. Hartley’s portrayal of the intersection of adolescence and adult regret makes for a potent, chilling narrative.
This book suits someone in the mood for something: dark, mysterious, tense
Pace: slow
Plot or Character Driven?: character-driven
Strong Character Development?: yes
Loveable Characters?: no
Diverse Cast?: no
Are Character Flaws a Main Focus?: yes
Main Themes / Tropes:
Rage, guilt, secrets, recklessness, betrayal, the loss of a future, friendship, trust, generational trauma
Synopsis:
Five girls, once the brightest students in a troubled school, are plunged into an uncertain, isolating summer as the world shuts down. Their recklessness spirals into tragedy, and seven years later, the consequences continue to haunt them. Someone knows what happened that summer, and their dark secrets are about to resurface.
Favorite Quote:
“We thought the future was ours—until the world dissolved.”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ugh, I hate that I'm about to leave a mixed review. I devoured Gilbert's first two books and really enjoyed them, and I'm so disappointed that I didn't love this one. This author is notorious for the slow build and uses many different POVs to establish background and character depth. Unfortunately, for me, that trait didn't work well here. I kept getting the five girls mixed up and had to keep looking back to see whose chapter I was reading. This made for a very slow and confusing reading experience, and I had to continue to do this until the very end. I did not have that issue with her other books. I think that if the author gave us their backstories at the beginning and then used mainly one POV for the majority of the story, it would have been a different ball game. That's just my opinion though. What I did enjoy were the characters and the loyal bond of friendship that they shared. And I loved that we never knew their real names. This added an air of mystery and intrigue to a plot that already simmered with a quiet rage. Around the 80% mark, the pacing picked up with an intensity that I wish would have presented sooner. The ending was good but not redeeming enough to make up for the slowness or confusion. Overall, it was an ok read. I will still look for more of this author's novels in the future. Would I recommend it? Yes. Other readers seemed to have enjoyed it even though it wasn't what I was hoping for.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for granting me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Expected US publication date: 8/25/2026
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for granting me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Expected US publication date: 8/25/2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What an absolutely awesome ride from Sian Gilbert!
The year is 2020 and five best friends who are also known for being especially bright are thrown for a loop when the pandemic hits. Suddenly, all their studying and smarts are worthless as the world descends into unknown territory. What was supposed to be a final rush to their exams and a fun summer before adulthood is now quiet and lonely as they are stuck at home.
The girls decide to break the rules for once and meet under the cover of darkness, defying the law saying to quarantine. The five- all with bird nicknames- quickly discover they enjoy being bad. Unfortunately, they go too far and it shatters their worlds forever.
Seven years later, and they haven't spoken since the pandemic. They have gone their separate ways and are trying to carve the futures they wanted. But then they realize that someone knows what they did. They must band together again and figure out who it is and what they have to do if they want any hope at a normal life.
The book is fantastic in world-building and goes between the different POVs so you understand each girl's background. I almost forgot there was going to be a second act- I was so connected to the first and interested in where it was all going.
The Five of Us gets five stars from me!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
The year is 2020 and five best friends who are also known for being especially bright are thrown for a loop when the pandemic hits. Suddenly, all their studying and smarts are worthless as the world descends into unknown territory. What was supposed to be a final rush to their exams and a fun summer before adulthood is now quiet and lonely as they are stuck at home.
The girls decide to break the rules for once and meet under the cover of darkness, defying the law saying to quarantine. The five- all with bird nicknames- quickly discover they enjoy being bad. Unfortunately, they go too far and it shatters their worlds forever.
Seven years later, and they haven't spoken since the pandemic. They have gone their separate ways and are trying to carve the futures they wanted. But then they realize that someone knows what they did. They must band together again and figure out who it is and what they have to do if they want any hope at a normal life.
The book is fantastic in world-building and goes between the different POVs so you understand each girl's background. I almost forgot there was going to be a second act- I was so connected to the first and interested in where it was all going.
The Five of Us gets five stars from me!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
May 21, 2026
I already really like this author, so I was eager to read this book even though the description was less than interesting to me. I am not a fan of pandemic themed stories and the bird names just seemed weird. Well, I was wrong. Again. First of all, the pandemic is sort of the backdrop for a much bigger picture and the girls' names are explained and that was sort of cool. Crow, Goldfinch, Starling, Wren, and Cuckoo are really promising students at a school that is boring and inadequate for their brainpower. Then comes the 2020 world shutdown and there go all their hopes and dreams. That leaves we five really smart teenage girls stuck in their houses and tell me that isn't a recipe for trouble. They sneak out, something terrible happens and seven years later, trouble is back at their doorsteps. The girls have not been in touch since the "incident" and are now forced to be. There is quite a large cast of characters here and numerous POV's, but the main players seemed well-rounded to me. Yes, this is a thriller, but I felt a main theme was the effects of boredom and loneliness and their consequences playing a big part in the storytelling. I am eager to read the next book from Sian Gilbert!
Thank you to Sian Gilbert, #NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Sian Gilbert, #NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*The Five of Us* is dark, unsettling, and utterly compelling. It has stayed with me long after I turned the final page. Sian Gilbert expertly explores the intensity of female friendship, the kind of closeness that can feel comforting, all-consuming, and dangerous in equal measure.
The relationship between the five girls is the heart of the novel. Their bond is beautifully drawn, filled with loyalty, shared dreams, private jokes, and an unspoken understanding that only comes from years of friendship. Yet Gilbert never shies away from the darker side of that intimacy. Beneath the affection lie jealousy, resentment, insecurity, and the pressure to belong, creating a constant sense of tension that simmers throughout the story.
The atmosphere is wonderfully claustrophobic and foreboding. As secrets begin to surface, the girls' once-unbreakable connection becomes increasingly fragile, and the story takes on a chilling sense of inevitability. Gilbert captures how easily love can become obsession, how loyalty can turn toxic, and how one devastating event can alter the course of multiple lives.
Beautifully written, emotionally sharp, and deliciously dark, *The Five of Us* is a haunting exploration of friendship and its consequences. A gripping thriller with real depth and one of the most convincing portrayals of close-knit relationships I have read in a long time.
The relationship between the five girls is the heart of the novel. Their bond is beautifully drawn, filled with loyalty, shared dreams, private jokes, and an unspoken understanding that only comes from years of friendship. Yet Gilbert never shies away from the darker side of that intimacy. Beneath the affection lie jealousy, resentment, insecurity, and the pressure to belong, creating a constant sense of tension that simmers throughout the story.
The atmosphere is wonderfully claustrophobic and foreboding. As secrets begin to surface, the girls' once-unbreakable connection becomes increasingly fragile, and the story takes on a chilling sense of inevitability. Gilbert captures how easily love can become obsession, how loyalty can turn toxic, and how one devastating event can alter the course of multiple lives.
Beautifully written, emotionally sharp, and deliciously dark, *The Five of Us* is a haunting exploration of friendship and its consequences. A gripping thriller with real depth and one of the most convincing portrayals of close-knit relationships I have read in a long time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the author and publisher for the ARC opportunity
This mystery/thriller was an easy and engaging read that kept me turning the pages. While there were a few aspects of the story that felt a little drawn out, I really appreciated how relatable the book was in its portrayal of how COVID impacted people's lives, especially students navigating school during such an uncertain time. It added an authentic layer to the story that made the characters and their experiences feel very real.
I enjoyed the multiple POVs it really helped shape the story giving more depth. The mystery itself kept me invested, and there were a couple of twists that genuinely caught me off guard. Just when I thought I knew the way the story was going to go, the story took a turn I wasn't expecting. Even the ending surprised me.
Overall, this was an enjoyable thriller with relatable themes, unexpected twists, and a satisfying mystery.
This mystery/thriller was an easy and engaging read that kept me turning the pages. While there were a few aspects of the story that felt a little drawn out, I really appreciated how relatable the book was in its portrayal of how COVID impacted people's lives, especially students navigating school during such an uncertain time. It added an authentic layer to the story that made the characters and their experiences feel very real.
I enjoyed the multiple POVs it really helped shape the story giving more depth. The mystery itself kept me invested, and there were a couple of twists that genuinely caught me off guard. Just when I thought I knew the way the story was going to go, the story took a turn I wasn't expecting. Even the ending surprised me.
Overall, this was an enjoyable thriller with relatable themes, unexpected twists, and a satisfying mystery.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Five of Us follows the increasingly heightened escapades of five friends—Crow, Goldfinch, Starling, Wren, and Cuckoo—as the pandemic closes their school, cancels their exams, and snatches their future possibilities.
Left with isolation, frustration, and an uncertain future, the five friends begin to break the new rules. Starting small at first, they increasingly move to more daring activities. That is, until an event that summer changes everything.
Seven years later, the estranged friends reconnect, the emotional trauma not yet dealt with. Just as they begin to move forward, they are abruptly forced to face the past: someone knows what happened.
Each still dealing with their own trauma, the friends work together to find out the truth.
Emotionally tense and class-sensitive, The Five of Us speaks to all those left behind. With the pandemic, young adults' future plans were stolen, forced to move on like nothing had changed. The book portrays this resentment masterfully and its corruptible influence.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing, Sian Gilbert, and NetGalley for an early arc!
Left with isolation, frustration, and an uncertain future, the five friends begin to break the new rules. Starting small at first, they increasingly move to more daring activities. That is, until an event that summer changes everything.
Seven years later, the estranged friends reconnect, the emotional trauma not yet dealt with. Just as they begin to move forward, they are abruptly forced to face the past: someone knows what happened.
Each still dealing with their own trauma, the friends work together to find out the truth.
Emotionally tense and class-sensitive, The Five of Us speaks to all those left behind. With the pandemic, young adults' future plans were stolen, forced to move on like nothing had changed. The book portrays this resentment masterfully and its corruptible influence.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing, Sian Gilbert, and NetGalley for an early arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Do you like books in which all the main characters name themselves after birds and refer to each other only by their bird names and discuss how much each of them are like the bird they have named themselves after? Do you like teenage angst? Do you like reading about girls who enjoy shocking themselves about how bad they are? Do you enjoy reading about their disappointing lives after they all fail to launch? (well, maybe a little bit because I didn't like any of them.)
If you answered yes to the above questions you will certainly like this book. I answered no to most of them.
If you answered yes to the above questions you will certainly like this book. I answered no to most of them.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What starts as restless teenage fun during lockdown slowly becomes deadly in “The Five of Us”. When 5 girls are sneaking out during Covid lockdown every night there’s a horrible accident and more than one death. The survivors have to move on after they cover their tracks. That is until what they’ve done catches up to them 7 years later and they have to deal with the fallout and more importantly, whoever is taunting them with their secrets.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sian Gilbert has done it again, and this might be her best yet. Really excited for the world to get lost in this dark, propulsive read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Received ARC from author*
Sian did it again! Now one of my favorite authors, she knows how to weave a dark, twisted tale that keeps guessing and on edge until the end. Well done, 5/5!
Sian did it again! Now one of my favorite authors, she knows how to weave a dark, twisted tale that keeps guessing and on edge until the end. Well done, 5/5!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the third book published by Sian Gilbert, and I have read all three. I have found myself attached to each character in her books in one way or another. This book takes place in the covid pandemic. Five prim and proper best friends are all of a sudden leaving their most anticipated senior year way too early. The reader follows the five girls as they find themselves breaking rules and really enjoying the power it is giving them. As they come back together as adults, they must face the reality of their actions in the midst of the covid pandemic.
Review of advance copy received from Author
At last: dark academia for the rest of us. Gilbert brilliantly reimagines THE SECRET HISTORY if the murderers lived in council flats instead of ivy-covered dormitories. Five teenage girls, all brilliant, all ambitious, are left adrift after the pandemic cancels their final year of secondary school. With nothing else to do, they sneak out at night to wander the town. However, those wanders give them a perspective of the wealthy that leaves them frustrated, resentful, and eager for a reckoning. Moody, poetic, and impossibly clever, THE FIVE OF US is exactly the kind of novel we need right now--a thrilling feast for anyone who longs to devour the rich.
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